re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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Alabama extended a Wednesday night offer to four-star safety and LSU commit Caden Sterns, he announced on Twitter.

The Cibolo (Texas) Steele product committed to the Bayou Bengals last November, and has appeared locked in ever since.

In fact, following announcing his offer from the Crimson Tide, Sterns Tweeted "Don't question my loyalty," which would insinuate his commitment is still firm with LSU.

Alabama would like to get the elite safety on campus, and may have the opportunity to this spring or summer.

At 6-foot-1, 173 pounds, Sterns is rated the No. 4 safety and the No. 42 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

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Cornerback is a position of need for the Tide in 2018, and one prospect who could eventually become a target is Jaycee Horn, a three-star product of Alpharetta (Ga.), and son of former Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder has recently received offers from Auburn and Georgia, and plans to visit Tuscaloosa on Friday and Tennessee on Saturday, he tells 247Sports’ Keith Niebuhr.

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Falkins posted this on twitter. Looks like he is transferring

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Alabama keeping tabs on Gatewood

Alabama will sign at least one quarterback in the Class of 2018, but who the Crimson Tide will pick up remains a mystery.

The Crimson Tide extended an offer to 4-star Centennial High School (Corona, Calif.) quarterback Tanner McKee on Tuesday night. McKee told SEC Country that he spoke with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Nick Saban, and both coaches told him that he’s a top target for Alabama.

Alabama has only two offers out to uncommitted quarterbacks in the Class of 2018 — McKee and 4-star dual-threat quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. It’s possible that the Tide may have to flip a quarterback who’s currently committed elsewhere.

One of those QBs may be Auburn commit Joey Gatewood. Gatewood, who’s rated as the nation’s No. 3 athlete from Bartram Trail High School (Jacksonville, Fla.), told SEC Country’s Benjamin Wolk that Alabama has been in contact with him. The most recent person that Gatewood’s followed on Twitter is Daboll.

The Auburn commit doesn’t hold an offer from Alabama yet, but he’s been told if he makes it to Tuscaloosa, he’ll receive one.

“I need to get up there,” Gatewood said. “They obviously think that I am a top guy in my class. We’ll see what happens.”

Gatewood sounds firmly committed to Auburn. He’s been a Tiger since December of 2015. He’s also stuck with Auburn through rumors of Gus Malzahn being on the hot seat and former offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee leaving for a job with Connecticut. The latter may have been the biggest blow for Gatewood because of their close relationship, but Gatewood remained with Auburn.

Is there any chance he would reopen his recruitment?

“There wasn’t no doubts (post-Lashlee). What happened, happened. I didn’t have any control over it,” Gatewood said. “Honestly, if Gus left (it would change things). If Gus wasn’t there, I would maybe — see; I don’t want to say too much because, even with that, I still don’t know what I would do. I don’t think that’d make me de-commit yet. I’d have to see what happens.”

SEC Country has been told that Alabama is a school that could potentially change his mind on Auburn. So, if Alabama does offer, would it make him reconsider where he stands with Auburn?

“I don’t know. Alabama is a good school — winning, got a good rep — so, we’ll see,” Gatewood said.

The 6-foot-4, 232-pound prospect said he’s planning on making it to Tuscaloosa, but he doesn’t have any set trip just yet. If he does make it to Alabama, fans should expect the Crimson Tide to make a move on Gatewood.

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Georgia LB says Tuscaloosa feels like home 

Brenton Cox is one of Alabama’s top targets in the Class of 2017 and he was in Tuscaloosa this past weekend for the Tide’s junior day event.

The best news coming out of the weekend for Alabama and its hopes of signing the prospect is that Cox, a 4-star JACK from Stockbridge (Ga.) High School, feels at home when he goes to Alabama. Whenever a recruit says that my ears always perk up. “Feeling at home” is a key phrase in recruiting. Lots of recruits are looking for a second home when they choose a school. That phrase is up there with early playing time and a good education as reasons why recruits usually pick a school.

Alabama is one of the schools that feels like home to the nation’s No. 4 defensive end.

“I am at the point where I need to feel more at home,” Cox told DawgNation’s Jeff Sentell. “Which I do feel more at home at Alabama and Georgia than anywhere else. I imagine I will go to more places and see more new things and I should be straight with my decision.”

Cox, who had 75 tackles and 18 sacks in 13 games as as junior, was thinking of committing in the near future — like in the coming days/weeks. That has changed now. It’s possible he will wait until the Under Armour All-America Game after his senior season concludes.

“It has changed a lot,” Cox said. “I might be able to wait it out now. I feel like if I just choose a school, then I’d be set. I’d be more focused on my grades. I’d be more focused on my senior season. But, then again, that sounds too easy. I don’t know if I will be ready. I don’t think I’m ready yet.”

There may be a hiccup in Alabama’s chances with Cox, though.

The state of Georgia’s No. 8 prospect is adamant about playing with his Stockbridge teammate, 4-star wide receiver Marquez Ezzard, on the next level. Cox says they are a package deal. Yes, they are teammates. Yes, they are good friends. Yes, they call each other brothers. But, for the most part, package deals just don’t pan out.

Ezzard, who could become a big-time Alabama target in the future, isn’t right now, even though he possesses a Tide offer.

If we are to take Cox for his word, that’s going to be an issue.

“I’m talking 10 times out of 10,” Cox said. “We’re going to play together. I’m talking about 10 times out of 10. For real. That’s happening.”

Ezzard believes Ohio State, Georgia, Auburn and Oregon have been after him the hardest. Cox has the most interest in Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State.

The Tide will focus on signing around three outside linebackers in the Class of 2018. Cox is one of those players Saban and outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi are hoping to land.

“Alabama is telling me the same things as everyone else is saying,” Cox said. “That I can fit in well there and work well in their defense.”

Cox plans to graduate in December and enroll early at his school of choice in January of 2018.

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